Blood–brain barrier
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized biological interface formed primarily by brain microvascular endothelial cells and their associated supporting cells, including astrocytes and pericytes.
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized biological interface formed primarily by brain microvascular endothelial cells and their associated supporting cells, including astrocytes and pericytes. It tightly regulates the exchange of molecules, ions, and cells between the bloodstream and the central nervous system (CNS), thereby maintaining neural homeostasis and protecting the brain from toxins, pathogens, and inflammatory mediators. Functionally, the BBB is not a passive wall but a dynamic, selectively permeable barrier whose properties can change in development, adulthood, aging, and disease.
From a biomedical perspective, the BBB is central to both neuroprotection and therapeutic delivery. Its restrictive transport properties limit entry of many drugs, including agents intended for Alzheimer’s disease, glioblastoma, epilepsy, fungal encephalitis, and other CNS disorders. At the same time, BBB disruption is a hallmark of several pathological states, including ischemic stroke, meningitis, neuroinflammation, and brain metastasis, where barrier breakdown can worsen injury or alter disease progression. Transport systems such as LAT1 and p-glycoprotein (P-gp) are frequently studied because they influence BBB penetration and oral bioavailability of candidate therapeutics.
Where the papers sit
11 papers from the last 6 months study blood–brain barrier directly · updated from PubMed 11 Oct 2026
Study type 0 clinical trials · 2 observational · 1 human data · 5 preclinical · 3 unclassified
Themes one subject
Those 11 are all about one subject.
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Therapeutic BBB Targeting
Therapeutic access across the barrier is pursued through focused ultrasound, intraventricular gemcitabine, transferrin-conjugated nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, and BBB-permeable drugs. Focused ultrasound work is refining pulse-length control for safer, more predictable opening and enabling non-viral gene delivery. Disease studies instead identify barrier injury drivers in traumatic brain injury, sickle cell disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke. The shared goal is to improve brain delivery while limiting hemorrhage and other consequences of barrier disruption.
Papers
The 11 papers from the last 6 months that study blood–brain barrier directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Therapeutic BBB Targeting (11)
- Focused Ultrasound is Poised to Take Non-Viral Gene Therapies to the Blood-Brain Barrier - and Beyond. Cell biomaterials · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42688794
- Protracted Intraventricular Infusion of Gemcitabine to Circumvent the Blood Brain Barrier. Anticancer research · 31 Aug 2026 PMID 42674692
- Transferrin-Conjugated Polymeric Nanoparticles via Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly for Enhanced BBB Transport and Glioblastoma Therapy. ACS applied bio materials · 17 Aug 2026 PMID 42606070
- Lyophilized platelet derived extracellular vesicles promote hemostasis and attenuate intracranial hemorrhage following traumatic brain injury. Journal of translational medicine · 19 Jul 2026 PMID 42472813
- Cross-scale mechanistic insights into ultrasound pulse-length dependent BBB opening. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 11 Jul 2026 PMID 42435858
- Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Before Interhospital Transfer for Thrombectomy and Clinical Outcome. Neurology · 1 Jul 2026 PMID 42385121
- Gut-brain axis crosstalk in patients with Alzheimer's disease and high body mass index: Gut dysbiosis, blood-brain barrier disruption, and neuroinflammation. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2 Jun 2026 PMID 42227185
- Proteomic profiling identifies systemic drivers of blood-brain barrier injury in sickle cell disease. Blood · 13 May 2026 PMID 42126987
- Targeting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) beyond the barrier: discovery of MEDS700 as blood-brain barrier permeable hDHODH inhibitor. European journal of medicinal chemistry · 12 May 2026 PMID 42119261
- A multi-targeted therapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancer: the tumor-targeting peptide p28 enhances chemotherapy, induces apoptosis, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and suppresses metastasis. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death · 7 May 2026 PMID 42095973
- DeepDrugDiscovery identifies blood-brain barrier permeable autophagy enhancers for Alzheimer's disease. Nature biomedical engineering · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42032039
By study type
Observational studies and case reports (2)
- Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Before Interhospital Transfer for Thrombectomy and Clinical Outcome. Neurology · 1 Jul 2026 PMID 42385121
- Proteomic profiling identifies systemic drivers of blood-brain barrier injury in sickle cell disease. Blood · 13 May 2026 PMID 42126987
Human data, design not indexed (1)
- Gut-brain axis crosstalk in patients with Alzheimer's disease and high body mass index: Gut dysbiosis, blood-brain barrier disruption, and neuroinflammation. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2 Jun 2026 PMID 42227185
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (5)
- Protracted Intraventricular Infusion of Gemcitabine to Circumvent the Blood Brain Barrier. Anticancer research · 31 Aug 2026 PMID 42674692
- Transferrin-Conjugated Polymeric Nanoparticles via Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly for Enhanced BBB Transport and Glioblastoma Therapy. ACS applied bio materials · 17 Aug 2026 PMID 42606070
- Cross-scale mechanistic insights into ultrasound pulse-length dependent BBB opening. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 11 Jul 2026 PMID 42435858
- Targeting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) beyond the barrier: discovery of MEDS700 as blood-brain barrier permeable hDHODH inhibitor. European journal of medicinal chemistry · 12 May 2026 PMID 42119261
- A multi-targeted therapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancer: the tumor-targeting peptide p28 enhances chemotherapy, induces apoptosis, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and suppresses metastasis. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death · 7 May 2026 PMID 42095973
Unclassified: not yet indexed with MeSH (3)
- Focused Ultrasound is Poised to Take Non-Viral Gene Therapies to the Blood-Brain Barrier - and Beyond. Cell biomaterials · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42688794
- Lyophilized platelet derived extracellular vesicles promote hemostasis and attenuate intracranial hemorrhage following traumatic brain injury. Journal of translational medicine · 19 Jul 2026 PMID 42472813
- DeepDrugDiscovery identifies blood-brain barrier permeable autophagy enhancers for Alzheimer's disease. Nature biomedical engineering · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42032039
Written from 11 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-06-16. Last written: 2026-09-02 by GPT. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.